Humidifying apparatus



0. D. HOGUE, HUMIDWYING 'APPARATUS APPHCATON HLED IAN. 6..S2Z.

LSO/l f Patented Oct. L E922 'Patented Oct. 3, 1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OLIVER 1'). HUG-UE, 0F BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS.

HUMIDIFYING APPARATUS.

Application filed January G, 1922. Serial No. 527,480.

To all w hom t may concern Be it known that I, OLIVER D. Hosen, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brookline, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have inventedA certain new and useful Improvements in Humidifying Aopparatus; and l do hereby vdeclare the following' to be a full, clear, and exa-ct description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled inthe art to Which it appertains to make andilse the same.v

My present invent-ion is anovel. and improved humidifying apparatus intended for household, oflice or factory use, and is preferably designed as a complete humidifying `unit, either portable or fixed, and operated by a heating element, preferably electrical'.

Important features of the invention are to provide a complet-e 'humidifying unit or apparatus with a capacity suitable for a room, house, building or enclosure, as desired, and of a compact form, attractive appearance and ease in operating;` which will render the same specially suitable for household use. By utilizing a heating,- element, preferably electrical, my humidifying unit can be operated to supply needed moisture in the atmosphere or to maintain the same at a hygienic and healthful living or vworking condition. The usefulness` and advantage of myl humidfyng device is of especial im,- portance in connection with countcracting the drying and unhealthful conditions in.

buildings, schools, residences and factories, due to artificial heating', during .cold weather or winters. Such artificial heating, whether from steam, hot Water or hot air furnaces, results in drying' out the air, exhausting the vitality, and creating an undesirable condition, either for living or Working conditions, as Well, also, as damaging furniture, pianos, etc., as Well, also, as necessitatin q the burning' of excess fuel to supply heat to devitalized and excessively dried air. My humidifying; unit counteracts and obviates'such difliculties, and being compact, economical and readily operable at a triflinfjlr expense, can be usedl to create an ideally perfect .climatic hygienic condition in. the house, room or built'lingI by supplying the needed humidity to the atmosphere.

In carrying.,T out my invention I preferably utilize a complete humidifying unit, consisti inc in a moisture containingl receptacle of' su st-antial capacity-preferably suiicient 'to supply a days consumption of moisture for the particular Work and apparatus desired-and in connection With said supply I provide a vaporizing or evaporating chamber or receptacle to which a relatively small and inexpensive heat supply would cause the vaporizing of the humidifying liquid. My apparatus, therefore, includes a liquid supply or reservoir of relatively large or predetermined capacity, a relatively small evaporating chamber or container, and a suitable heating, element for the evaporating chamber, thus enabling an inexpensive heat supply to eil'ect the operation of the appara` tus. Suitable means connecting thefsupply 1eservoir.with the vaporizing chamber or receptacle are provided, which means may be and preferably is of a type to maintain a predetermined water level in the vaporizn ing portion of the apparatus. Thus l am enabled to produce a luimidifying unit which will operate all day or' to a. predetermined extent without attention or refilling, and Will be operable by a heating element, electrical or. otherwise', which ,will be of minimum and negligible cost.

Preferably provide my unit of so com* pact and eiiicient a structure'that it is portable and can be readily moved, placed or p0- -sitioned at any .convenient point, attached to a register, fitted under a table, or in any other position throughout the house, room r or building.

Anirnportant advantage of the apparat-us is that it can be utilized advantageously as a disinfecting and fumigating means'. Thus by adding any desired article, perfume, disinfectant, germ killing or other chemical to the liquid supply or to the vaporizing part of the apparatus, the diffusion of the liquid throughout the atmosphere Will equally carry the perfuming, disinfectant or reine dial chemical. The affinity of the atmosphere for absorbing humidity is lWell known and will be pointed out in further detail hereafter.

Additional features, novelties and advantages `will also be further explained and claimed. y

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel details of construction and combinations of parts more fully hereinafter disclosed.- and particularly pointed/(iut inthe claims.'

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which forming part oi this rte ui nii like numerals deeigi'ihie like the views:

Figure l is e central 'vertical sectional viewof an electric humidifier rotule in ee cordance with the present; invention.

Figure-2 is a. cross Sectional view of the parteV shown in Fig. 1, taken on the line 2-2 of the Suid figure and looking ilow.

Figure 3 is :i cent1-:il vertical seciioiuii View of a slightly moililied forni ol: 'the ilevice, and

Figure is e plan TView of the parte shown in S. l

Referring more especially to Figs. 'l unil 2, l indieiitee e buse, preferably sii-ruler or annular in form. provided with the leus or supports 2 and upon which rests the cylindrical receptacle 3 preferably formed. of sheet metal. Said receptacle 3 is provided with the bottoni 4. and with the central tubular member 5 extent-,lingf substantially the iull. height of the Seial receptacle7 thus forming' un unnuifr :aimee G which is adapted tu receive and hold waiter es will more fully appear below, Secured to the upper portion oi' the seid tubular member 5 is the fiar-ed end 7 of e second tube 8 which likewise extends substantially the full height ol the receptacle 3. sind the said tube 8 is closed at its lower end by a Cap 9 which is provided with a threudeil opening l0 edapteci to receive the threaded portion ll oi' an electric resistance element l2 of any suitable construction.

The tube 8 is off somewhat diameter than the tubular member 5 thereby providing iin annular spese 13 between 'the two and at the lower portionof this annular space there is prov e plurality et pipe connections lll between the annular epzufe 6 end the interim' of 'the said tube 5%. where- .by Water contained in the siiiil spiufe 'f3 um); flow into the seid. tube 8, as will he sleur from Fig.. l. A cap or cover 1.3 muy he eniployecl to Close the upper portion of the re Ceptacle 3 and a detachable plug 1u pruvdec with' the electric cable l? may he inserel in suitable holes or openings provided in the portion ll. ot' the resietzuu'e element 12. This cable 17 may be supplied with electricity from convenient souri-e. and controlled from a dist-uut point it lesired, such as the 'well switch l-l). nttiu'heil 'to thewail 4l, or it muy be connerted to an. convenient lamp socket.

"lhe operation of this torin of the device *will be clear from the foregoing but it mijn be briefly summarized as follows:

When it is desired to inn-euse the :noisture content of' the air within ai 'roem or other enclosed space1 wut-er may be intru-4 eluced into the annular space 6 within the receptacle 3 by removii'ig cover lf3 mul pouring it therein, whereupon it will rind .y the ilo-'ttul eurer now be. vC current bei flow 'through the ie i8 ifi J Fifi@ rephicerl mul the el'u'ii' turned on the letter will i'esieiuuee element l2 whiih i hewn iu flireel; Contact lwith the water iu the tube Fv but which may be urruiigied in un); oihir treating position desired. The Suhl. 4e ance element will. oi course bectuue h heated thereby Causing the smid water Jihin the tube 'h to ewijorzite u ui'lie i'uiurlly.

Tl ns evaporation will raue@ the moisture in the :nr within a room or ol spare to increiiee, with the reeulthut wiihui u time alter the elet-tru, eurreul is tui-ned ou. any desired degree oi' hiunu y' muy be obtixlneel. The annular :space lil which, it will be noted is open to the'zitinoephe'e lo the bottom serves an iur .Suu-e u1u! uifsu Simili letor to jore ent the overiieuling of the :ipperzitus.

The form of the, apparatus shown iu Figs. 3 unil i operates iu substianii l suine nummer. but its vonstruclion if; 1 ent in that it ie (lesiffueri to he usell l any receptacle for uohliug;- willen which muy he iivaihible: that iS tu suv, un); suitable pun or rer'eplizufh 2f) may he pr'oviflell 'which may be lilhul with writer up to rho level iiulivuteil hv the ilottefl line 2l, whereupon the vziporizing; or evu,pointing` portion muy he placed therein. thuzv instituting complete luu'uhlilyiugr :ipoui'zitus with relatively liu-ire reservoir liquid und z l i l sepurzite vzijiorizii'ig mul -iezitiug portion This 'form of illu* huulhliiier whahah o" l thinA outer lShell 12:2 of any desired :shuiu lo which is secured un inner ;-:heil ZIB pruvuliner :i el'uiluher 2l open to the ulinfi uml :i rhuniher which is substantie tight uml serves lo huo),v up the um); musing); il; to limit in Ylilie wuier wiihui the pan 2l). This urriii'iggeuieril, wherein the water level is nuiiutuiiuul in the vuiioi'ixing,r uiul evziporutiugil or hunting portion hrougghout the uSe ol' the apparatus. ie olE very greatiiuportuiue. :iu l linll that: f i'ezil' ly increased Ollivienev iS obtiiiiuible hy umintziining the 'wiitei level 1S i, h-uitiiilly uniform throughout the houtiub element. This enublwl me to supply just the moet. elliifient combination oi" heating eleueut and the volume oi' wiiier in heut reveiving contar-t therewith. forever). vuporizinzgr iii; ull tiiuee, :unl with :i relatively minimum expense for the electrical heating; element.

*i i prel'er to utilize this iori'n iu prue- 31 thun that iliuetriteti in lfigis. l. 1e Shell 2S 'irei'ieribiy provided with :i boss into which tlirezuletl ai plug member 2T having :in ou or pazifrom adistant point, if desired, such as the lamp socket 42. As above stated, #the operation of this form of the device is substantially the same as that above set forthy in connection with Figs. 1 and 2 and it therefore need not be repeated.

In bth forms it will be readily appreciated that I have provided a complete humidifying unit, preferably portable, and preferably also adapted for operation with a minimum amount of electric current and hence of negligible expense. Numerous modifications` will readily occur to those skilled in the several arts involved, in addition tothe two examples herein illustrated. In my development of humidifying appara-tus, I find that it is entirely feasible to create an ideal indoor climatic and hygienie condition, by maintaining the indoor atmosphere With a proper and proportionate amount of humidity, substantially equivalent to a perfect outdoor spring or summer day temperature and moisture. lNhen it is appreciated that the most comfortable living, working and healthful conditions in outdoor temperature, are between 65 and 75D F., together with humidities of between 55% and 65% 4of saturation, it will be appreciated that my humidifying apparatus, by maintaining this desired degree of humidity, will automatically change an '.unhe'althful indoor condition with vitiated air -into a healthful and ideally desired atmospheric condition. I find also that at -the above desired temperatures and perce'ntage's of humidity, the air has a moisture content of from four to four and a half grains of free water per cubic foot. The yair has a continuous affinity for absorbing moisture upto its saturation point at any predetermined temperature, and by utilizing a continuous supply of moisture in finely divided form, as given out by my humidifying apparatus, at the vaporizing portion, the humidity of an enclosed space,

such as in a room, or building, is very.

quickly brought up and easily maintained in an ideally perfect humidifying condition. As the air itself continuouslyr, and almost instantly seeks to establish and maintain a perfect hydrostatic balance throughout the. entire extent of thefconfined area either imparting' moisture to people or articles in the" enclosed area, .or absorbing yit Vfrom them; the necessity of .artificial .humidification when steamer hot heat.

air heat is being supplied', will be most apparent. Furthermore, dryair Is a poor conductor of heat, while water is an excellent heat conductor, and therefore a properly humidiied atmosphere will quickly and more easily become heated to a satisfactory personal temperature and in tact an enclosed space with a high degree of humidity afi'ords an infinitely more comfortable .and working condition than a drier atmosphere with a higher degree of Thus, for example 7 0D F. temperature with three grains of moisture per cubic ioot results in a sensible heat ofy about'o F. or too chilly for comfort, living or working conditions. On'the contrary, a 70O F. temperature with/four and a half grains of moisture peep/libic foot of air results in a sensible heut ,of 61 F., or an ideal working condition/ Numerous other similar' eX- amples establish the Jfact that with a proper proportion of' humidity contained in the atmosphere, especially indoor atmosphere, a resulting or sensible heat for living or working conditions is reached with lower temperature than where dry and'high heat is found.

YVhile I am aware that it has been attempted to provide humidity for indoor temperatures by allowing basins of water to stand and evaporate at the normal room temperature, by attachments to steam and hot water radiators, or the like, I believe that my invention of a humidifyilng unit containing a liquid supply and positive humidiiying or vaporizing means controllable at will and operable for any predetermined eX- tent, is new and I therefore wish to claim the same broadly. Also such a humidifying unit or apparatus, whether or not a heating element is employed as the positive Vaporizing or evaporating means, in combination with a suitable liquid supply as apart of the unit or apparatus is, I am advised, novel and therefore I claim the same broadly. I also wish to claim hereafter, broadly, the combination of a relatively large liquid supply, a

,relatively small' vaporizing chamber, to-

get her with means connecting the liquid supply with the vaporizing chamber, either for continuous feed of liquid and to maintain a predetermined level or otherwise, this feature I believe being broadly new and giving me the ximportant beneits of utilizing a minimum amount of heat generation as the positive'vaporizing means.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the 'United States isf- 1. A humidifying unit, comprising a liquid' supplying receptacle, a vaporizing receptacle, a connection between said receptacles, and a positively vaporizing element operating in a vaporizing portion. f y

2. A humidii'ying unit,.comprifsin/g a liqiiqiiid suppl jx n viipcriziiig pci iiciijy', ricains cciiiiccii 4 vripcriiniig Aiiicii wiii said vapcrizirig pci ,imi iiimidi'lyirig' unit cciiipriisiiig :i liq i ying rccj'iiluclc of relatively liirpgc 'i ii '1 iw Mir-gica ci sniziii i I imm@ ccriiicctiriig lic .y iirii pcbi'lii v acting viipiiiizinr; means iii. cciiiliiiiiitic with :mid 'aporiziiiig pci iiciiy. iiii cif'zipcriiiiig receptacle mi icld lively simili ciipiiciy, ciiiiicciliiigg Siiid i'ccciiliiclc wii'ii l'lic iiiiiiid supply airrziiigcd i'ic :iiiliiiiiiiiiculiy' iiiiiiiiziiii ai prcdcicriiiiiicd iiiiiiiiiiiy of lic iiqiiiil iii thc cifzipcrziiiig i'cccpiiiclc.y iiiiii iiicimis "Cc siigply h uji Said rcccplziclc ic ii'iziv'riiiin cvzipcriiicii 'alici-cifrciii.

l0. i'iiiiiiidifyiiig appara soiircc 0l 4liQiiiil supply ci rciaii; ciiiiizii'im mi viipcmiiiii' rcccpr ll rzifwiici' lLili illici miiiiw.

liquid lio supply clcctric haar "w iiiiiiiibiiiii cvapcrziticii "ying apparariig :siii le for iwelliiig, oiiiicc, :ipziiriiiciit or "ftiiig ii ii supply rcccipbiicle5 r rcscrvcir, said raser-vivir iccA "fd iiiid arranged lo rcccivc a ly from the supplying receplucie iiiid i. i icdcicriiiii'icd craporariiig caf'cr a iiiiiiiiiiiiiii generation ci' liciit, iii ms im supply iiczii; im iiiiid rcscriicir mid nica-iis ccniiccciiigf ilie. rciscrvcir iirid the, suppiy, iilicrcby siibsmiiiiiilii/ cciiiiiuciis irivii'i'ici-:iicii iii i'ircdclzciiriiiicd viiiiiiiic Wili lie '.rciii siiiid rcserifoir, ircsiicciivc il L ci, :iiitii'y liquid iii thc supplying iiiiiidifyiiilir apparait-iis consisting in :iii eviipcriiingf i'cccpiicic, liciiiiiiig means in ci'iiiii'iiriziticii Wibli Smid receptacle propor tioiicd tc iicciirc prcdctcriiiiiied iiiiliimc ci' iai'iipciiiicii vici' die iiiiiciiiii, of licii supplied, imi.. iiiciiiis to :supply liquid 0 said rcccp'izicle iii ciiiiiliiiciis iirid :iiitciiiatic manner prnporti( iicd l@ lieA cviipcriiiiiig capacity of the iccepiiclc iiiid ills ii--:itiiig' clement. i

i3. iii ii ilci'icc (rf lie-i dass described, the

cciiibiziiitici of :i receptacle; zidzipcd to coi/iii.A

rain a liqiiiih i; sccoiid receptacle, iii restricted communiciiicii with said iii-st receptacle, and iiicziris iisscciiicd with said receptacles iiileiiitcd fic ciiiisc thc evaporation of the liquid ccii-iiiiicd 'die ein.

idf. iii i: dcijicc ci dic class described the cci'iibiiiiilicii ci" `ii rcccprziclc adapted to conliiiii :s liqiii i, ii Second receptacle in restricted rciiiiiiiiiiii-aicii with said first receptacle, and iadiiizcd lie "cd therefrom; and means wiiiiii mic ci .fiiid receptacles and in dii'crib iiciiiicii with clic liquid therein., :idapd fic ciiiiisc the ci'iipiiiiiticri of Suid liquid,

' 'icc ci" iii@ class dcszcriiicd thc ri'iiiil of :i .ici'vcpiliiclc zidiipicd t0 con iriiii :i lifziiiiiiy zi ricci id rcccpiziclc iii rcs'iictcd riiiiiiniiiiiciiicii ii' i smid first rccci'iliiclc, :ind ziiliiped i1@ lic fed licrc'frciii, and electric licaliiiigr iiicziiiii i'i'itliiii mi@ 0l Suid rcccptaclcs and iii dircci contact with lic liquid therein,

liquid. i

16. iii ii device ci"- ilic class described thc ccmliiiiaiicii ii rci'cpliic c :iiliip'tcd t() con iiiii i liquid, :i Secund i'cci'ipacli associated wili siiifl first icc plu/:lc in Spiiccd relation "Llicrctc :rnd iii rcsrictcd cciiiiriiinicutioii blicrcvi'i'ii, :ind clcrtric liciitiiiig'liicaiis mountcd 'ii'ililiiii Said fscciiiid rcccpiiclc iii dircc'l; cciiitiicif .rili thc liquid licrciii, adapted "L0 ',iiiisc 'tlic emi'ioriiiicii ci' said liquid,

` Li zi. die-vice of 'dic class dcScrilicd tlic P "cii icccptzicic adapted to C011N l. zi ficcciid rcccptsiclc also iid; ir-

liiiiiid. ii casing iiisscciiicd 'scccnd rcccp'i .lc pro riding air tight insulating air chamber around said second receptacle, adapted to Heat the same on the liquid contained in Said lirst receptacle, connections between said rst and second receptacles, and means for causing the evaporation of the liquid contained in said receptacles.

1&3. in a device of the class described the combination of a receptacle adapted to contain a liquid` a second receptacle also adaptcd to contain a liquid` a casing associated with said second receptacle providing an airtight insulating air chamber around Said second receptacle, adapted to 'lioat the same on the liquid contained in said first receptacle, connections between said first and second receptacles for permitting liquidto flow from one to the other, and electric heating means for'causing the evaporation of the liquid contained in said receptacles.

19. In a device ot' the class described the combination of a receptacle adapted to contain a liquid, a casing associated with said 'receptacle and held in spaced relation thereto, to provide an air tight insulating chamber adapted to float the same upon a body of liquid, means for admitting said liquid to Said receptacle, and an electric heating element in said receptacle in direct contact with the liquid therein, adapted to cause the evaporation of said liquid.

OLIVER `D. HOGrUE.r 

